Google Stadia Game Streaming Platform, Stadia Controller Unveiled at GDC 2019

Google has announced its game streaming platform Stadia at GDC 2019. Stadia will work across various platforms from smartphones and tablets to TVs, laptops and PCs through Chrome. 

It integrates YouTube as well, allowing developers to add a play button to game video on YouTube and lets users immediately play the game on Chrome. Stadia will leverage Google's data centers that are present in 200 plus countries and territories. 

Google's Phil Harrison took the stage to show off Assassin's Creed Odyssey working across a Chromebook, Pixel 3, and TV via Chromecast in a seamless fashion. Furthermore, you can use your own controllers or keyboard and mouse on Stadia on your PC or laptop. 

In addition, Google also revealed the Stadia Controller. It links to data centers directly via WiFi. It features two new buttons - a capture button that allows players to share themselves with friends or the world via YouTube. There's also a Google assistant button to assist players in-game. 

Stadia key features:

Stadia's architecture has been built on Google's data center tech which also powers its search results. It has been infused with gaming-focussed hardware to keep up with the task of streaming heavy games. 

The Google data centers are powered by Stadia GPU from AMD which is at 10.7 teraflops. This is nearly double of what Xbox One X and PS4 has, which makes it possible to play games like Doom Eternal at 4K 60fps in HDR on Stadia. 

Google claims that it has been testing Stadia's tech internally for years and plans to allow 4K 60fps gameplay with HDR in surround sound when it is available for all. As per Google, Stadia will eventually scale up to 8K as well.

Users will be given option to share Stadia gameplay footage to YouTube at 4K 60fps. Developers can create multiple points of purchase and play for games on Stadia through Gmail, YouTube, and search, going as far as to let players click a link on a game trailer and get right into that game.

YouTubers could use it to send custom challenges to their fans and players can even create and share their own links to let others get in a game at the exact location they are in.

Moreover, Stadia won't be restricted to just single-player games. Google confirmed that multiplayer games will also be supported on Stadia. These would include Battle Royale and couch-based co-op experiences.

And in a refreshing move, Harrison also confirmed that Stadia will support cross-platform play as well. A concrete release date and price point hasn't been confirmed yet, though Harrison stated that Stadia will be launched in US, UK, Canada and Europe later this year. 

Harrison also told that the service would require an Internet speed of around 25Mbps for 1080p 60fps gaming and around 30Mbps for 4K. However, he did also say that Stadia would offer lower resolution where necessary, scaling with your Internet connection. Considering that the service did have a considerable amount of latency even on 200 Mbps connections during its first impressions at GDC 2019, it would be interesting to see how it performs in real world conditions after being finally released.